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Miguel Vazquez signs with Al Haymon, eyes Kevin Mitchell

Fighters Network
28
Jun

IBF lightweight beltholder Miguel Vazquez has signed with Al Haymon and is being considered for a mid-September defense against twice-beaten Kevin Mitchell, Sean Gibbons of Zanfer Promotions informed RingTV.com on Saturday.

Haymon associated Sam Watson also confirmed Vazquez's signing.

THE RING's No. 1-rated 135-pounder, Vazquez (34-3, 13 knockouts) was last in action for a unanimous decision over Denis Shafikov in February that represented his sixth title defense.

Haymon's stable already includes Floyd Mayweather Jr., Danny Garcia, Adonis Stevenson, Peter Quillin, Marcos Maidana, Lucas Matthysse, Shawn Porter, Keith Thurman, Amir Khan, Leo Santa Cruz, Robert Guerrero, Devon Alexander, Chad Dawson, Deontay Wilder, Adrien Broner, Paulie Malignaggi, Omar Figueroa, Erislandy Lara, Carlos Molina, Gary Russell Jr., Chris Arreola, Sakio Bika, Andre Berto, Austin Trout, Luis Collazo and Edwin Rodriguez, among others.



"I am happy that he signed with Al Haymon. I guess that it's a managerial agreement. He's still promoted by Zanfer until at least October of this year," said Gibbons, reached in Omaha, Neb., where he is in attendance at the Terence Crawford-Yuriorkis Gamboa fight. "We're looking into some fights, now, and he has a mandatory that comes due on Sept. 21. We're getting ready to offer him a fight in England against Kevin Mitchell."

In addition, Gibbons said that he expects the IBF to name Russia's Rustam Nugaev soon as one participant of an eliminator bout for the right to face Vazquez.

"The IBF is trying to get that eliminator fight done, right now," said Gibbons.

A winner of 13 consecutive fights, three by knockout, Vazquez, 27, has not suffered defeat since falling by decisions against current junior middleweight Canelo Alvarez in July 2007 and two-division titlewinner Tim Bradley in June 2008.

The 29-year-old Mitchell (38-2, 28 KOs) has won five consecutive fights, including the last four by stoppage, and was last in action for last month's 11th-round knockout of Ghislain Maduma.

THE RING's No. 5-rated lightweight, Mitchell's lone defeats were by knockout in the third and fourth rounds by Michael Katsidis in May 2010 and Ricky Burns in September 2012, respectively.

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